Automatic brake-valve.



No. 832,306. v PATENTED OCT, 2. 1906. G. P. FINNIGAN.

PNEUMATIG BRAKE VALVE.

PPLIoATIon Hmm we. ne. 1904.

UNITED sTArns PATENT onirica.

PNEUMATIC BRAKE-VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oct. 2, 1906.

Application filed August 26, 1904. Serial No. 222,240. v

To all whom iii/may concern:

Be itknown that I, GEORGE P. FINNIGAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident oGreene, in the county of Chenango and the purpose of releasing air from a train-pipe,

thus applying the brakes and stopping the train.

The valve is 'rovided with an adjustment, so that when t e valve is fully opened the volume ofair passing through it is controlled entirely by the adjustment.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding-parts in all the figures. Figure 1 is a vertica. fragmentary section through a locomotive equipped with my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device, showing the valve proper lin' vertical section. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the valve and its immediate connections. 4 is a vertical section upon the line 4 4 of Fig. 2 looking toward the left of the drawings. Fig. 5 is a section upon the line 5 5 of Fig. 2 looking inthe direction of the arrow; and Fig. 6 is a plan, partly diagrammatic, showing a trolley connection different from that shown in Fig. 1 forenergizing the valve. Upon the eab 7 is mounted a conductor 8,

l `engaged by a trolley 9, whereby the electric connections are completed. The pneumatic valve controllable by the engineer is shown at 10 and is provided with the usual tube 11 to be connected with the train-pipe. Oonnected with this valve 10'is a .T 12, provided` with an annular portion 1 3, integral therelv-with, this annular portion being provided `VWitha slot 14, having countersinks 15 of substantially-conical form merged thereinto, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 5. The T 12 is provided with a web 17 this Web having sectorobiect `being to produce a special type of fact that it is useful in cases oiA like apertures 16, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 4. A revoluble valve member 19 is provided with similar apertures 17, as indicated in Fig. 5. A manually-operated screw 20 is provided with a stem 21, integral therewith, this stem being free to screw into the revoluble member 19, as indicated in Fig. 5. The screw 20 may be loosened and the revoluble member 19 turned relatively to the web 17, the screw being then tightened. The screw engages some one ofthe countersinks 1 5 for the purpose of holding the revoluble member 19 rigidly in position. The stem 21 of the screw fits neatly into the slot 14, so as not to interfere with this relative movement except when the screw is tightened into one or the other of the countersinks mentioned. By adjusting the revoluble member 19 relatively to the web 13 the sector-like apertures 16 17 may be brought into such positions as to partly register with each other, as indicated in Fig. 5, thus adjusting the capacity of the valve for permitting the passage of air. A11 annulus 22 is provided, as shown in Fig. .2, and is provided internally with an annular `rib 23, which prevents the revoluble member 19 from being misplaced. Mounted upon this annulus22 is a cap 24, provided with a central aperture 25, closed by a glass disk 26. This disk may be cemented within the cap 24 or otherwise secured in any desirable manner.

Upon an immovable plate 27 is mounted a post 28, of insulating material, and also a'post 29, preferably of metal. This last-mentioned post is encircled by Va spring-wire 30,

tends to drive the hammer ,in the direction indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. The hammer 31 is provided with a striking-point 3 2 and with a shoulder 33, whereby it may be held temporarilyin a retracted position. A lever 25a is' pivoted at 26EL andv is provided with a dog 24aL integral therewith for engaging the shoulder 33. A guide 27"JL revents the hammer 31 from getting out of a inement with the dog 24a. AA sliding plate 28a is provided with a slot 29, loosely engaging screws 30a, whereby said plate is free to move to the right or to the left relatively to these screws. The plate 28 is provided for the pur ose of holding the lever 25a in such position t at the dog 24aL will hold the hammer 31 in its retracted position and yet will cause the hammer Ito `be released when the plate 28T-gis seen from Fig.

moved to the right, as will be 2l The sliding plate 28a is provided with a notch 31, lengagedby a pawl 34, integrally connected .with a lever 32, this lever being mounted upon a pvot 33a. provided"\with a slotv 35, which loosely engages a pin'36, carried by, an armature 37, pivotally-mounted upon a late 38. When the armature. 37 swings to t e right or to the left, as seen in Figs 3, the lever 32"* is caused to rock correspondingly and to move the plate 2-88.- The levers 25 and 32, plate'28a, and guide 27 a are all mounted u on a stationaryv plate 39, which is Inounte upon a post 40.'v Mountedu on a bracket 41 is anelectromagnet 42, .a apted to attract the armar.

ture 37. In. Fig. 1 the magnet 42 is energized by means ofthe trolley 9, which may of course be operated in any desired manner, preferably by movements ofthe train relatively to the trolley. f

In Fig. 6 the rail-sections 8al 8* are con- ..I,1ected, respectively, with the Wires 8c 8d, which are in turn connected with the contact 43, this contact being opened and closed automatically by a solenoid 44, rovided with a signal-arm 45 and' rod 46. Vllhen the semaphore-arm'45 is in a position indicating danger, as shown in Fig. 6, the contact 43 is closed. VIf now a vehicle 7, provided with a trolley 9a, passes along thetrack adjacent to the semaphore-arm 45, the wheels of the vehicle '7a and the trolley 9a com lete a circuit through the ma net 42, thereb thel apparatus. git will .be understood, however, that my present invention relates' merelyto the pneumaticvalve and immediate electric connections for `energizing the same, and I dol not limit myself to any particular meansfor energizing the magnet 42.v

My invention is used as follows: The hammer 31 is drawn backward into the position indicated by full linesl in Fig. 2 and secured position by the --dog 24a. The sliding plate 28a is now slipped a little to the left, so as to engage the free en`d vof the lever 2,5? This movement/of the plate 28a. causest-he lower or free end'ofthe lever 32a to swing to the right, .thus-.carrying the armature 37 a little distance away from the ma et 42. If now the magnet 42,.be energizeby the completion lof the circuit through the same-as, for instance, when the vehic e arrives in such position thatthe trolley 9 engages the conductor 8 or the trolley 9EL engages the rail-section 8L so that a circuit is completed through the wheels of the vehicle, as will be done when the vehicle 7 a moves to the left from its position indicated in Fig. 6, the magnet 421s instantly energized. .This causes the armature 37 to swing toward the magnet, carrying with it the lever 32 andmoving the sliding -plate 28.a a little tothe right, so as to release the dog 24f"-rom"t -he,hammer 3-1. The ham- The lever 32a is.

y energizing. in

mer thereupon thrown bythe s lring 3f) into the position indicated by dotted) lines in Fig. 2 breaks the Glass 26 and allows the air to pass out suddnenly from the T 12, thereby venting'the train-pipe and automatically a the air-brakes to the train. By t e sarily governed by the position of they revolu` ble member 19. This adjustment is of eculiar value in cases where it may be feare that a sudden application of the emergency-brake may work mischief with some ofthe parte.

I do not limit myself to the application of my pneumatic valve tok air-brakes. Itmay obviously beused in an other'rel ation Wherein it is desirable to su denly allow a'fluidstfo escape through a assage ofv predetermined size. It is of pec iar service upon railroads,v however, for the reason .that it acts so quickly as to. apply the brakes in time to prevent disaster. Having thus described my! invention, I claim as new and desire to vsecure by Letters Paten t- 1. In a pneumatic brake-valve, 'theeombination of ahollow posed adjacent to s'aid opening and having a convex conformity for the 'purpose of resistair-pressure, and means for automatical 'y breaking said disk so as .to allow'tne. free passage. of" air through said opening.

2. n a pneumatic brake-valve; thecombination of a hollow vided Witn a web an Within said web, a vided with apertures to saidw'eb so as to partially register' with'each with'apertu'res-disposed revoluble memberproand movable. relatively member engaging-said cap and' normallyobpneumatic member pro- .vided with an opening;` a disk' of glass dis- IOC neumatic member pro'- cause saidV apertures to other, acap cony nected with said pneumatic `mem-loer provided with an opening, 'a glass closure `structi'ng the passage of air4 through said aper-tnres, and means "for breaking said gllassl member.

3. In' a pneumatic'brake-valye,f.the combination of a with a brittle substance nbrmally yobstructing` the passage of air, a hammer-for breaking sald brittle substance, thereby' allowing the escape of air, lever mechanism holding said hammer in a retracted: position, and electric mechanism for automatically operating saidlevermechanism so as; tov release said hammer.

4. In a pneumatic brake-valve,the com-' binat'ion ofv a pneumatic"- Inember mfovided with an` opening, a glass disk-,disposed adjacentpto said opening'andi'normally closing the same, a'hammeror-breaking said glass pneumatic member prow/'ided for normally disk, a spring connected with said hammer for forcing the same toward said disk, a lever provided'with a dog forholding said hammer in a retracted position, a slide engaging said lever for the purpose of temporarily holding the same in position to engage said hammer, a lever engaging said slide and free to move the same, an armature. connected With said lever, an electromagnet connected With said armature, and means controllable automatically by movements of a vehicle, for energizing said electromagnet.

5. In a pneumatic brake-valve, the combination of a movable member for suddenly venting the train-pipe, a lever temporarily en aging said movable member, a slide for ho ding said lever in a predetermined posi.

tion, and mechanism controllable by an electromagnet for actuating said slide so as to release said lever. V

6'. In a pneumatic brake-valve, the combination o a pneumatic member provided with an aperture to pose of supplying a'r-brakes, a fragile disk normall closinO` said aperture, a hammer for brea `ng said` disk, mechanicalfmeans for restraining said hammer and electricallyoperated mechanism for' releasing said restraining means.

7. In a pneumatic brake-valve, the combination of a pneumatic member provided With an aperture to be vented for the purpose of-appl 'ng air-brakes, said aperture being norma ly closed, means, controllable at will for adjusting for the purpose of'applying 'air-brakes, said be vented for the pu1`` 'bination o the capacity ofsaid ap erture, and mechanism for suddenly openingv said mechanism being pneumatic member being normally closed, means for openin said pneumatic member, and mechanism or controlling the facility With Which said pneumatic member is vented, said mechanism being independent of said means for opening said pneumatic member.

9. In a pneumatic brake-valve, the combination of a pneumatic member to be vented for the purpose of applying air-brakes, electricallyoperated magnetic mechanism for venting said pneumatic member, and mechanism controllable at will for adjusting the facility With which said pneumatic member is thus vented said mechanism being independent yof said means for venting said member. l

10. In a pneumatic brake-valve, the combination of a pneumatic member to be vented for the purpose of applying air-brakes,

means for venting said pneumatic member, and mechanism adjustable by hand for controlling the facility with which said pneumatic member is vented, said mechanism being independent of said means for venting said member.

11. In a Jipneumatic brake-valve, the coma pneumatic member located upon a vehicle, means controllable by movements kof said vehicle for venting said pneugratie member, and mechanism adjustable which said pneumatic member is vented,

said mechanism being' independent .of said means for venting said neumatic member.

In testimony Whereo I have signed my name to this speciiication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE P. FINNIGAN.

Witnesses:

WAL'roN HARRISON, JN0. M. RITTER.

hand for controllingl the facility With 

